doublecrowss | Inbox for awash

[ She's here, she's... she's here, no colourful language will be used.

That is, Haru is circling the Ruga district, still uncomfortably damp from the ceaseless rain. It's dripped down the back of her coat by this point, flattened her hair into an unpleasing basket of frizzed curls, formerly fluffy but now lifeless. Her cheeks are rosy with chill. ]

Akechi-kun?

[ She blinks over at him and - oh. Right. ]

Oh, I'm sorry. How informal of me. We haven't been properly introduced, have we?

[ Though he isn't formally in any of the patrol teams, Akechi had decided to be his usual Pleasant Boy self and try to assist the newcomers as soon as he heard the news of their arrival. Who knows, perhaps he would get the chance to investigate this place further, find out any new clues, and get that little bit closer to the truth.

What he wasn't expecting to find, though, was the previously fluffy-haired Persona-user, looking a bit like a wet poodle. ]

Okumura-san...?

[ But... what was this about not having been formally introduced? They were part of the same team... weren't they? Well. That's one more thing to leave aside, for now. ]

A-ah, are you all right? Do you need a towel...?

[ It doesn't surprise her that he knows her name. Her celebrity may not match his, but Goro Akechi is likely a very well-informed young man. She tries to smile but can't - partly due to being mildly embarrassed by his graciousness and partly because everything about this is so surreal and unsettling. Her father continues to linger at the back of her mind, too. ]

Thank you, but I'm fine.

[ The moment her sentence winds down, a large section of curl flops into her face, followed by a dollop of cold rain water.

...

Haru sneezes daintily. (Achoo.) ]

Actually, I think I may need a towel after all.

[ Akechi offers a sheepish chuckle in response, his own feelings, a jumbled mess. Out of all Phantom Thieves, Haru was the one he would subtly try to avoid the most, not because she was particularly unpleasant (much on the contrary) or idiotic (that would Ryuji), but rather, because of his own guilt; her father may have been a rotten criminal, like many others he took down before, but to her, he was still family. He was everything she had.

But he also never lets it show on his face, never lets himself dwell on it for too long. He knows he can't change the past, doubts he can shift the course of his future, but getting Haru a towel and something dry to change into? That, he can do. ]

Very well. I imagine you must have a lot of questions, and I'll be happy to answer as many as I can, but I believe our first priority is to get you dry before you catch a cold. Please, let me take you to where I've been staying.

[ That said, he starts moving towards his house, but not before he's sure Haru is following him. ]

Actually, it's a common misconception that you can catch a cold from being damp or chilly. It's possible, but highly unlikely unless the virus is already present.

[ Haru is indeed following, even as she chatters aimlessly. It's at least partly to keep herself distracted and her mind off how soaked and itchy she is, among... other things. If anything unsettling creeps across Akechi's face, she's only slightly aware o it, and quick to explain it away - this is a very odd little village, after all, and no one really consented to be brought her. (She thinks.) ]

Edited 2018-05-29 23:58 (UTC)

[ Huh. It's true, he never got to know her that closely, but Haru never struck him as the type to be so... talkative. Is this how she copes with stress, maybe? Or is she just that nervous?

Well. Either way, he's always happy to indulge. ]

Does that mean Okumura-san is the type to defy the odds? [ There's a chuckle, friendly, and he adds: ] Because I'm sorry to inform, but it does very much sound like you are about fall sick...

In that case, you should probably keep a healthy distance.

[ Sometimes people just sneeze! But - he's not wrong, really - sometimes it is a sign of something oncoming. Considering the last few weeks of her life, she wouldn't be surprised if stress has weakened her immune system. ]

There's no need for both of us to get sick, after all.

[ Well, Akechi normally keeps a healthy distance from people because, haha, what are close relationships, right? Right?? ]

I appreciate your concern, but I believe I'll be fine. [ He offers a small laugh, though, always the Pleasant Boy that he is. ] I went through the same as you, back when I first arrived, and I managed to avoid sickness. Admittedly, I had some help at the time, so hopefully the same will apply to you. Consider it paying it forward, haha.

Well, I'm certainly grateful for your help.

[ Her tone may be a bit too even, a bit too balanced... It's fine. ]

Could you tell me a little more about how you ended up here? Why haven't you tried to go home, Akechi-kun?

[ Hmm...? It's not that Haru had struck him as the unstable type, far from that, but there was something a little... off? About her mannerisms right now. A little too stiff, in a way he didn't think would suit her.

Oh, well. It's not his place - or in his interest - to question her right now, anyway. ]

Oh, believe me, I have certainly tried, but the truth is, it doesn't seem like there is much we can do against our captors so far.

[ A sigh. ] I... understand this isn't the news you were hoping to hear, and it might be particularly disappointing to know that even I haven't been able to make much progress in my investigation concerning the mechanics behind this place, but... that is the unfortunate state of affairs as of the moment.

I'm sure it isn't your fault.

[ That look on his face... It's disconcerting. She mislikes the idea that a comment of hers caused it. Especially considering he's been nothing but helpful and gracious since they met up. ]

Perhaps... Perhaps I could assist in your investigation? To tell the truth, I don't have any skills useful to a detective, but I'd be happy to learn from you!

[ There's no way this can go badly. :D ]

Inbox for awash

backdated to intro / action.

haruuuuu!!

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so many typos in that last tag, I'm embarrassed :(

it's okay I am blind to typos!!

I AM SO SORRY, June was unexpectedly hectic

it's fine!!!

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